Algoma School District Superintendent Nick Cochart is happy to announce a new partnership with The Rural Enterprise Network, Live Well Algoma and Live 54218 to bring locally produced meals to the districts’ cafeterias.

Using what is known as “Farm to School” programs, schools throughout the U.S. are looking to offer healthier alternatives for the meals served in their cafeterias. The Algoma School District will be joining this growing movement for the 2016 school year.

The Rural Enterprise Network and the NE Wisconsin Food Hub will hold an informational meeting Tuesday, December 8, 2015 from 4 – 5pm in the Algoma High School Board Room (Room 117) for producers interested in selling through the newly announced Farm to School program with the Algoma School District. This program is open to all local producers .

According to Cochart the project he envisions doesn’t stop at the cafeteria tray. Nutritional education, recipe competitions and taste testing will be a big part of the plan. “Farm to cafeteria has become a national trend that I’ve been gathering information on along with the Rural Enterprise Network over the last year. They brought Live 54218 and their expertise to the table and we brought it all together under the Live Well Algoma banner and now we’re off and running”.

Ashley Ponchok from Live 54218 brings her experience implementing “farm to school” programs in a number of area school districts including Green Bay, Pulaski, Wrightstown and DePere. The Rural Enterprise Network, whose goal is to help small farmers and local producers stay profitable, will spearhead the producer side and Teal VanLanen of Live Well Algoma will act as project manager to bring the project to fruition for the 2016 school year.

“The Farm to School project helps our mission by giving local farmers another profitable outlet for their goods. This program will allow small farmers to connect not only to our district but to much larger customers in Green Bay and the valley” commented Jodi Parins of The Rural Enterprise Network.